अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन | प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः ||८-२||
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṃ ko.atra dehe.asminmadhusūdana . prayāṇakāle ca kathaṃ jñeyo.asi niyatātmabhiḥ ||8-2||
Chapter 8 · Verse 2
Akshara Brahma Yoga
अक्षरब्रह्मयोग
In plain words
Arjuna put seven estions to the Lord1. What is that Brahman Is it Brahman with the Upadhis (limiting adjuncts) or Brahman without them2. Is it the aggregate of the senses or individual consciousness (PratyakChaitanya) or distinct pure consciousness3.
Translation
8.2 O Madhusudana, how, and who, is the entity existing in the sacrifice here in this body? And at the time of death, how are You to be known by people of concentrated minds? 8.2 Who and how is Adhiyajna here in this body, O destroyer of Madhu (Krishna)? And how at the time of death, art Thou to be known by the self-controlled? 8.2 In order to settle these estions seriatim -
Meaning
Arjuna put seven estions to the Lord1. What is that Brahman Is it Brahman with the Upadhis (limiting adjuncts) or Brahman without them2. Is it the aggregate of the senses or individual consciousness (PratyakChaitanya) or distinct pure consciousness3. What is Karma Is it Yajna Or is it distinct from Yajna4. Adhibhuta is knowledge of the Bhutas. Is this the knowledge of the elements or something else5. Adhidaiva is that which is associated with the gods. Is this the meditation on the gods Or is it the consciousness associated with the Suryamandala etc.6. Adhiyajna is that which is associated with Yajnas or Vedic rituals. Is this the Para Brahman (Supreme Being) or any special god Is it of the same form (Tadatmyarupa) or is it entirely nondifferent (Abheda) Does it exist in the body or outside it If it exists in the body is it the intellect (Buddhi) or distinct from it7. At the time of death when the memory is lost and when the senses become cold (i.e. whenthey lose their vitality) how can the man of onepointedness and of steadfast mind know the LordO Lord Madhusudana Thou art allmerciful. Thou hast killed Madhu and removed the miseries of the people. Even so Thou canst remove my difficulties and doubts very easily. This is nothing for Thee the omniscient Lord. (This is the reason why Arjuna addresses the Lord by the name Madhusudana.)
Word by word
अधियज्ञः Adhiyajna कथम् how कः who अत्र here देहे in body अस्मिन् this मधुसूदन O Madhusudana प्रयाणकाले at the time of death च and कथम् how ज्ञेयः knowable असि art नियतात्मभिः by the selfcontrolled.